PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies’ offseason was more active than the previous winter, but when compared to the wild winter of trading for Roy Halladay, followed by the back-door cut they used to sign Cliff Lee prior to the 2011 season, Ruben Amaro Jr. took a pass on this winter’s general manager cannonball contest.

Frank Wren did not.

The Atlanta Braves G.M., like Amaro, had an outfield that needed reloading. After the Phillies made a half-hearted move toward B.J. Upton, the Braves moved in with a five-year, $75 million contract to get the incredibly gifted yet underachieving center fielder.

Then, when the Arizona Diamondbacks made it known that they were shopping Justin Upton, B.J.’s younger and more accomplished brother, Atlanta put together a seven-player deal that gave it a brother tandem with the potential to have the best sibling season for the same team since Paul and Lloyd Waner.

The Braves also got free-swinging third baseman Chris Johnson (132 strikeouts in 2012) in the Justin Upton trade, and between him, Justin (121) and B.J. (169), there have been tons of whiffs added to a lineup that already has epic whiffers Dan Uggla (168), Jason Heyward (152) and Freddie Freeman (129).

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It makes Atlanta one of the most intriguing teams in baseball this year, and the Phillies and Cole Hamels get to open 2013 with three games against their National League East rivals tonight (7:10) at Turner Field.

“We know what we need to accomplish,” Hamels told reporters over the weekend between spins around Citizens Bank Park, as he warmed up for his first opening-day start by manning the hot-dog gun turret. “We know the (defending N.L. East champion) Nationals are hitting on all cylinders, and the Braves have always been very good.

“We lost the division last year, so we have a lot to prove.”

The Phillies caught a glimpse of Atlanta’s raw power this spring. Two weeks ago the Braves walloped four homers — two by Justin Upton — as they won a slugfest, 17-10. Four days later the teams had a rematch in Clearwater, and although the Phils prevailed, 8-7, Atlanta got three more bombs — one by B.J. Upton, two others by Evan Gattis, a hulking Cinderella story who will get starts at catcher while Brian McCann is on the disabled list.

The Phillies have had their share of mediocre Aprils during their decade run of finishing at .500 or better. However, with 17 of their 27 games in the opening month against teams with losing records last season, this ought to be a month the Phils view as an opportunity to get a jump on their divisional rivals.

A series win in Atlanta would be a good way to embark on that quests.

“It gives you an opportunity to get out on a division rival, who is one of the teams that definitely is going to be at the top of this division,” Ryan Howard said. “As long as we can stay healthy I think we can do good things ... If guys are going out there being themselves, doing what they do, then we’ll be all right.

“I’m ready to start. I’m ready to go. Now it’s go-time on Monday.”

Charlie Manuel didn’t reveal his batting order against Tim Hudson, but it seems Ben Revere will get an early opportunity to bat leadoff with Jimmy Rollins batting second. It’s likely that third baseman Michael Young will hit fifth behind Chase Utley and Howard, with Domonic Brown batting sixth.

Howard, trying to prove there is life in his career after rupturing his Achilles’ tendon at the end of the 2011 season, has hit seven career homers off Hudson, the most against any pitcher.

“I’ll play with it a little bit,” Manuel said of the order. “I’ll do some things. I’ll get our matchup sheets. I’ll go over all the reports. Atlanta’s bullpen definitely plays a part in the lineup because of their depth with left-handed pitchers.

“It’s a process you go through for a couple of weeks. Usually it takes anywhere from two weeks to a month for the league to settle in. But there will be things that indicate your strengths and weaknesses. They’ll definitely come out.”